On December 15, 2017, Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Dai Bing held a discussion with 9 mayors and governors of 4 countries including Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe, who were in China for the first workshop for mayors and governors of Portuguese-speaking African countries held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Director-General Dai Bing reviewed the development course of China-Africa relations, expounded on China’s five major cooperation concepts towards Africa in details, namely, the common, intensive, green, safe and open development, and spoke positively about China’s relations with Portuguese-speaking African countries, adding that China welcomes Sao Tome and Principe to return to the big family of China-Africa friendship. Dai Bing noted that China will uphold the values of justice and shared interests to continue strengthening cooperation with all friendly African countries, and support the African countries to independently explore development paths suitable to their national conditions. Instead of encouraging the African countries to copy China’s development mode, China is willing to share its development experience unreservedly with the African countries.

The mayors and governors thanked China for holding this workshop and appreciated China’s long-term and selfless assistance for the African countries in developing economy and improving people’s livelihood. They hoped to apply the knowledge and experience they have acquired in China this time to the cause of national development as well as expressed the readiness to further cement practical cooperation with China.